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Gov. Inslee Appoints Alex Harrington as new CWU Student Trustee

Governor Jay Inslee has named Alex Harrington, 19, to serve as student trustee at Central Washington University for the 2019-20 academic year.

Harrington, who will be a senior during his term, is majoring in political science. He is a 2018 graduate of Bellevue College and earned his diploma from Interlake Senior High School in Bellevue.

“Alex’s commitment to service is evident through everything he’s taken on so far, including his work in the office of Dean of Students office at CWU, as well as his participation in a variety of student organizations and agencies, and as a McNair scholar,” Inslee said. “ He will make an excellent addition to the CWU Board of Regents and will represent his fellow students very well.”

Harrington called the appointment a great honor and an amazing opportunity.

“I’m very passionate about higher education and the ideals of free expression and having a diversity of ideas,” he said. “I look forward to working with the other trustees in navigating the future course of the university.”

Harrington said his priorities as a student trustee will include making certain that implementing the new state minimum wage doesn’t result in student fee increases and increasing student retention by putting an increased emphasis on student health services.

“I think it’s imperative to create a centralized space for the departments under health and wellness,” he said. “I also want to address the rising cost of higher education and look at ways Central can lead the state in making college more accessible to those who want to continue their educations.”

Harrington’s undergraduate research as a McNair Scholar at CWU is into the history and development of solidarity within the Israeli Black Panther Party.

He said that after graduating from Central, his hope is to pursue a PhD in Public Administration.

All of the state’s six public baccalaureate institutions have a student seat on its governing bodies. The student trustees serve one-year terms and are full voting members on all issues except matters relating to hiring or discipline of personnel, tenure of faculty, and collective bargaining agreements. Harrington’s term will end on June 30, 2020.

Harrington was among a list of five nominees for student trustee submitted by CWU to the governor.